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Town Bans Use of Plywood on Residential Windows and Doors; Require $25,000 Escrow to Ensure Property Maintenance

In continuing their pledge to protect and preserve our quality of life in the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Louis Imbroto and the Town Board unanimously approved a new law to combat ‘zombie’ homes. The new local law strengthens the Town’s authority to: fine property owners and lending institutions in violation of Town Code; recoup costs associated with Town maintenance of vacant properties; and ban the use of plywood in covering residential windows and doors.

In continuing their pledge to protect and preserve our quality of life in the Town of Oyster Bay, Supervisor Joseph Saladino, Councilman Louis Imbroto and the Town Board unanimously approved a new law to combat ‘zombie’ homes earlier this month. The new local law strengthens the Town’s authority to: fine property owners and lending institutions in violation of Town Code; recoup costs associated with Town maintenance of vacant properties; and ban the use of plywood in covering residential windows and doors. Together with members of the local Breezy Point Civic Association in Massapequa, the Supervisor announced the new law, with Town Quality of Life co-chairs Councilman Louis Imbroto and Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr. They were also joined by Town Councilman Joseph Muscarella and Councilman Thomas P. Hand.

“The Town of Oyster Bay strengthened the law to address quality of life concerns caused by dilapidated and vacant homes in our neighborhoods,” said Supervisor Saladino. “Together with residents and civic associations, we are taking back our neighborhoods by cracking down on code violations and holding absentee landlords and lending institutions accountable. We are also removing eyesores in our neighborhoods by banning the use of plywood on windows and doors.”

The new Town Code expands on the definitions of what constitutes an abandoned or vacant building, and also requires that any boarding placed on homes be completed with impact-resistant polycarbonate material, in lieu of typically-utilized plywood, to help avoid a community eyesore. The new Code further strengthens the Town’s ability to address adverse conditions often brought on by ‘zombie’ homes, by establishing a mandated trust account to which the foreclosing entity must deposit $25,000 to cover any potential costs the Town could incur from maintaining the property.

Councilman Imbroto, Co-Chairman of the Town of Oyster Bay Quality of Life Task Force, stated, “This updated Town Code strengthens the ability of our Code Enforcement Bureau to achieve compliance from property-owners and lending institutions by providing inspectors with more authority to investigate, identify and rectify quality of life concerns caused by vacant and abandoned properties which cause eyesores in our neighborhoods. This is a win-win for our community.”

Town Clerk James Altadonna Jr., Co-Chairman of the Town of Oyster Bay Quality of Life Task Force, further stated, “We are proud to work with citizens and civic associations to identify both residential and commercial properties that are impacting the quality of our communities. Together, we are taking back our neighborhoods by addressing code violations and cleaning up dilapidated and abandoned properties.”

The new Town Code was advanced by the Quality of Life Task Force to assist its efforts, which focus on code enforcement for concerns such as illegal housing, zombie homes, noise, landscaping, and parking, among other issues.